Anti-glare ceiling fixture screen

ABSTRACT

This assembly is for a retractable and versatile screen assembly for temporary or permanent installation for shading and glare reduction of ceiling light fixtures in T-bar grid ceilings. The screen assembly securely attaches to the T-bar of a light fixture in the ceiling using an clip integral to the screen cylinder casing and a receiving S-clip receiver at the opposing side of the ceiling fixture. Operable in a manual mode, the screen assembly can be deployed while sitting at a desk, or it is attachable in a more permanent position beneath a ceiling light fixture to control the glare emitted. The screen assembly includes a stationary screen cylinder, a screen, a spring roller, and a receiver S-clip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of lighting shades, andmore particularly to a guided retractable opaque screen that whendeployed reduces or eliminates glare emitted as a result of artificiallighting utilized in t-bar grid ceiling fixtures.

2. Description of Related Art

Interior buildings must be lit in some fashion, whether by means ofartificial lights or natural lighting, for most people to conductactivities indoors. Regardless of whether the type of lighting isartificial or natural, it is essential to the conduct of human indooractivities in homes, businesses, stores, offices, schools, and so forth.In today's world, our hours of activity extend well before dawn andbeyond sunset and are no longer limited by the fire-lit darkness thatour ancestors faced before the advent of electricity.

With light comes heat, and so in homes, stores, warehouses, offices,schools, and various other buildings, incandescent lighting is oftenreplaced with fluorescent light fixtures that reduce heat emission andthat are less expensive to make and operate. The disadvantage, however,is the increased glare that fluorescent lights create on the monitorscreens of computers, which are also standard features in modern homesand businesses. This glare can cause severe eye strain, headaches, andeven eye damage from prolonged exposure.

Much prior art has been devoted to efforts for reducing glare. Many ofthese have developed covers that attach or are integrated into thecomputer monitor screen itself. Such devices include glare screens,electromagnetic screens, and framed opaque films.

In some prior art, various means have been developed for directing lightemitted from a fixture away from the computer monitor screen, which hasthe effect of eliminating the glare. U.S. Reg. Pat. No. 5,733,036teaches a two-layered stacked louvered light control for a fluorescentlight fixture that is suspended from a ceiling grid and that can bemanufactured as part of the light fixture or used to replace the lens ofsuch a fixture. U.S. Reg. Pat. No. 5,806,967 teaches a light fixturewith a shade having an elongated down-light aperture. U.S. Reg. Pat. No.5,954,421 teaches a reflector that is used within a light fixture tofocus the light more efficiently and a cover to make it more attractive.

Prior art has also developed roll-up shades that cover vertical windowopenings and that can be maneuvered to change the amount of light perunit area passing through the window covering. These devices include thepopular horizontal mini-blinds having horizontal slats that can beraised and lowered over a window opening and when lowered can be rotatedin concert with each other from a horizontal to a vertical position.U.S. Reg. Pat. No. 6,189,592 teaches a roll-up shade that provides forvariations in opacity of the shade by movement of two parallel coveringswith juxtaposed alternating patterns. U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,474 teaches aroll-up shade that can conform to the curve of an automobile window.

The problem with the prior art is that it is expensive and difficult tomanufacture, and it is complicated to install. It is complex in itsvarious parts and operation, tending to wear and break with constantdaily use. Prior art with a vertical orientation will not operate whenplaced in a horizontal position, such as for purposes of shading ceilingfixtures. In addition, as lighting fixtures and computer monitor screenschange from year to year with improvements in technology and changes forconsumer taste and design, the prior art must also be continuallyredesigned so that it will fit or otherwise be usable with the newesttechnologies.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consists of an assembly for a retractable screenthat is securable to a T-bar of a grid ceiling at one side of a lightingfixture inset into such grid ceiling. Said retractable screen beingcapable of being unrolled horizontally from a self-winding roller, suchas a spring-loaded roller, and secured in open position by means offitting a pull-connector into a receiver S-clip that has been in turnsecured to the T-bar of the grid ceiling on the side of the insetlighting fixture opposite of the retractable screen assembly. Theassembly includes a stationary film cylinder, a film screen and U-shapedpull-connector, a spring-loaded roller, a screen pull-stick, and areceiver S-clip. In one embodiment of the present invention, theretractable screen is capable of being held in a partially open positionby securing the pull-connector to receiving clips, self-adhering tape,or other attachment means set at regular intervals on the ceiling gridT-bars that are along the sides of the inset lighting fixture.

One object of the present invention is to provide an assembly that canbe installed temporarily or permanently to cover a light source in aT-bar grid ceiling for purposes of reducing glare.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly thatcan be used on the exterior of a light fixture frame.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide for ananti-glare screen that may be operated manually to eliminate glare or toincrease light as desired temporarily, or that may be attached in apermanently open position as a shade across a source of light.

Further important objects of this present invention are to provide ananti-glare screen that is easy to mount onto a pre-existing T-bar gridceiling, easy to operate and clean, inexpensive to manufacture, anddurable for daily use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, anembodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The drawingsconstitute a part of this specification and include exemplaryembodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Itis to be understood that in some instances various aspects of theinvention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate anunderstanding of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Perspective view of present invention from upper side havingretractable screen extended horizontally.

FIG. 2 Perspective view of present invention from lower side havingretractable screen extended horizontally.

FIG. 3 Side view of screen cylinder casing of present invention havingretractable screen extended horizontally.

FIG. 4 Perspective view of screen cylinder casing of present inventionhaving retractable screen retracted.

FIG. 5 Side view of screen cylinder casing of present invention havingretractable screen retracted.

FIG. 6 End view of screen cylinder casing.

FIG. 7 Front view of screen cylinder casing.

FIG. 8 Front view of screen and retracting mechanism with screencylinder casing removed.

FIG. 9 Side view of spring attachable to interior screen cylinder forretracting screen.

FIG. 10 End cap of interior screen cylinder.

FIG. 11 Perspective view of pull-connector from side that connects toretractable screen.

FIG. 12 End view of pull-connector.

FIG. 13 Perspective view of receiver S-clip.

FIG. 14 Side view of pull-stick.

FIG. 15 Side view of screen cylinder of present invention being attachedto T-bar grid ceiling and having retractable screen extended belowceiling light fixture and secured in open position to receiver S-clip.

FIG. 16 View of lower side of retractable screen in extended positioncovering light fixture inset into T-bar grid ceiling.

FIG. 17 Perspective view of one embodiment of present invention showingattachment means set at regular intervals along side T-bar grid oflighting fixture to allow partial extension of retractable screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the present invention in perspective view from theupper side with the retractable screen 10 extended horizontally from thecylinder casing 20. The cylinder casing 20 is further described in FIGS.6 and 7, and the pull-connector 30 is further described in FIGS. 11 and12. The screen 10 may be made of any opaque material that is thin andflexible so as to be capable of being rolled around a cylinder yetsufficiently durable so as to be capable of being retracted and extendeda plurality of times daily. Preferred material for the screen would be atinted oriented polyester film, cellulose acetate film, or other similarplastic film. The preferred thickness of the film is 0.005-inch gauge,although the gauge may range in thickness from 0.001 to 0.014 inch. Theplastic film must be made non-transparent, preferably by means oftinting. Film tinting may be accomplished by any of a plurality ofmeans, including gel coating, color tinting, imprinting, and lamination.The plastic film must also be heat resistant because of its proximity toa light-emitting source when extended.

The plastic film screen may be made in a plurality of sizes, with thepreferable dimensions matching those of standard light fixtures that areinset in T-bar ceilings. Accordingly, the preferable size is 24 inchesin width by 48 inches in length, although retractable screens may bemade for smaller and larger fixtures as desired.

Referring to FIG. 2, the present invention is shown in a perspectiveview from the lower side with the retractable screen 10 extended. Twosides of the pull-connector 30 are visible from this view, the thirdside being hidden from sight. The pull-connector is further described inFIGS. 11 and 12. The retractable screen is pulled from the screencylinder casing 20 through a slot 21 in the casing, which is describedin more detail in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In FIG. 3, the present invention is shown from a side view with theretractable screen 10 extended. The end cap 22 of the screen cylindercasing 20 can be seen. The retractable screen is pulled from a slot 21in the screen cylinder casing. On the upper side of the screen cylindercasing is a clip 23 that is integrally attached to the casing, suchattachment being made by single molding of the casing, welding the clipto the casing, or otherwise. This clip serves as the device forattaching the cylinder casing to the grid ceiling T-bar, as shown inFIG. 15. It also serves to encase the U-shaped extension 31 of thepull-connector when the screen is retracted into the screen cylindercase, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring to FIG. 4, a perspective view of the screen cylinder casing 20of the present invention is shown, but with the retractable screenretracted. In this view, the retractable screen is not visible becauseit has been full retracted into the screen cylinder casing 20. Thepull-connector 30 is completely retracted to the screen cylinder casingso that the U-shaped extension 31 of the pull-connector is inserted intothe clip that is integrally attached to the screen cylinder casing 23.

FIG. 5 illustrates another view, this time from the side, of the screencylinder casing 20 with the retractable screen completely retracted, andas such not visible in this view. The U-shaped extension 31 of thepull-connector can be seen inserted into the clip 23 of the screencylinder casing 20. The pull-connector is in direct contact with theslot 21 in the screen cylinder casing. The fact that the screen can becompletely retracted into the screen cylinder casing is of significantbenefit because the screen is fully protected in this position. Thescreen cylinder casing can be easily installed, removed, moved, andreinstalled to a different position on a T-bar grid ceiling withoutdamaging the retractable screen. In addition, the pull-connector is in ahorizontal position by insertion into the screen cylinder clip so thatit does not hang from the screen cylinder while the screen is retracted,and thus avoiding stress on the rewinding spring, prolonging the life ofthe unit, and eliminating bending or denting the retractable screenwhile the unit is in the closed position.

Referring to FIG. 6, an end view of the screen cylinder casing isillustrated. This view shows the end cap 22 of the cylinder, the slot 21through which the screen is retracted or extended, and the integralcylinder clip 23. The screen cylinder casing is the outer cylinder thatencases an inner axle and spring assembly around which the screen iswound while retracted. In one embodiment of the present invention, theaxle may be seen through the end cap of the cylinder, while in anotherembodiment, the end cap is solid on the exterior of the casing such thatthe interior axle is not viewable. The cylinder is molded with a slot 21in one side capable of allowing the extension and retraction of thescreen. At the upper side of the screen cylinder casing and facing inthe same direction as the slot, a clip 23 is integrally attached to thecylinder by one-piece molding, welding, or other means of attachment.This clip 23 serves as the device for attaching the cylinder casing tothe grid ceiling T-bar and for holding the pull-connector when thescreen is fully retracted, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The clip is madeof sufficient size to allow for it to be slid onto a standard T-bar gridframe It is significant that this integral clip face the same directionas the slot because during extension of the screen there is pullingtension on the screen cylinder casing. If the clip were to face in theopposite direction of the screen slot, the pulling tension duringextension of the screen would result in the screen cylinder casing beingpulled off the T-bar of the ceiling. By facing in the same direction,the clip will always be pulled toward the T-bar during screen extension.

In FIG. 7, the screen cylinder casing 20 is illustrated from a frontview, the front being the side of the cylinder from where the screen canbe extended and extracted. In 20 this view, the integral clip 23 isshown at the upper side of the cylinder 20, and the slot 21 forextension of the screen is shown positioned at approximately the middlepoint of the cylinder side. On opposing ends of the cylinder casing isan end cap 22.

FIG. 8 illustrates the screen and retracting mechanism with the screencylinder casing removed. The screen or film 10 is shown coiled around acentral cylindrical axle 40. In this embodiment, a spring 41 is securedto the axle to the left of the wrapped screen 10. The spring may besecured to the right or left of the coiled screen. As the screen isextended, the spring tightens, creating tension. When the screen isreleased from the extended mode, the tension on the spring will bereleased also, causing the spring to loosen, which causes the axle toturn and wind the screen into the cylinder casing. In some cases, asecond spring on the opposing side of the axle is incorporated. FIG. 9illustrates a side view of the spring that is attachable to the axle onwhich the screen is wound for retraction into the interior of the screencylinder.

One end cap 22 of the screen cylinder is illustrated in FIG. 10 in aslightly perspective view. The central cylindrical axle of the presentinvention (as shown in FIG. 8) is supported inside the screen cylindercasing by insertion of the opposing ends of the axle into the centralholes 28 of two identical end caps.

Referring to FIG. 11, a perspective view of the pull-connector isillustrated from the side that connects to the retractable screen. Thepull-connector is somewhat “U” shaped, having a horizontal bottom panel33 that is attachable to the screen, a vertical panel 35 that allows forspacing between the screen and the ceiling light fixture, and a tophorizontal panel 31 that is usable as a tab to fit into the receiverS-clip (see FIG. 13). The bottom panel 33 is pierced by a hole 38 atabout the center of the panel for insertion of a stick by the operatorof the present invention for purposes of extending and retracting thescreen (see FIG. 16).

FIG. 12 shows an end view of the pull-connector. The screen or film 10of the present invention is secured to the pull-connector along the edgeof the bottom panel 33. It is securable by means of lamination,heat-resistant adhesive, or other means. The vertical panel 35 of thepull-connector and the horizontal tab 31 at the upper side of thepull-connector are shown in this embodiment with triangle supports 36,37 for attachment, which support adds surface area and strength to theconnection of these panels, improving durability of the pull-connector.

In FIG. 13, the receiver S-clip is shown in perspective view from oneend. The receiver S-clip has two slots, the upper one 52 beingattachable to a bar of a T-bar grid ceiling. When the receiver S-clip isattached to the T-bar, the lower slot 54 extends beneath the T-bar andthe pull-connector tab 31 (see FIG. 11) is insertable into the lowerslot. The receiver S-clip may be made of metal or hard plastic.

FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of the stick usable to operate thepresent invention. The present invention is usually placed overhead andonly a few inches beneath a T-bar grid ceiling fixture, and thereforeout-of-reach of many operators. To extend the screen, an operator mayinsert this stick into the hole in the bottom panel of thepull-connector (see FIG. 11) and pull the screen from the cylindercasing to extend it. The tension caused by the spring on the centralaxle will keep the screen under tension during extension so that theoperator can easily move the screen under the receiver S-clip and insertthe tab of the pull-connector into the lower slot of the receiver S-clip(see FIG. 15).

Referring to FIG. 15, the present invention is shown in use, beingattached to T-bars of a T-bar grid ceiling 17, 18 on opposing sides of aceiling light fixture 15 and being extended and secured in open positionbelow the ceiling light fixture. The receiver S-clip 50 is secured bysliding the upper slot of the clip 52 onto a T-bar 18 at one side of theceiling light fixture, while the screen cylinder casing 20 containingthe retractable screen is secured by sliding its clip 23 onto a T-bar 17at the opposing side of the ceiling light fixture. Said clips 20, 50 maybe permanently secured to the T-bar ceiling or may be slid onto theT-bar without any permanent attachment, allowing the present inventionto be easily removable and movable to another location.

When the screen 10 is in retracted mode, it winds inside the screencylinder casing 20, the pull-connector 30 closes up to the screencylinder casing 20, and the pull-connector tab 31 meets the T-bar clip23 of the screen cylinder casing. In this FIG. 15, the screen 10 isshown in extended mode, having the pull-connector tab 31 being insertedinto the lower slot 54 of the receiver S-clip. If the screen isout-of-reach of the operator, the operator may extend the screen byinserting the stick 70 into the center hole of the pull-connector 30(see FIG. 11) and gently pulling the screen 10 out of the cylindercasing 20 to the receiver S-clip 50, moving the pull-connector tab 31into position for insertion into the lower slot 54 of the receiverS-clip 50, and releasing the pull-connector from the stick. The operatormay then store the stick in a convenient location until required again.In this figure, it can be seen that the screen 10 is spaced below thelight fixture to allow for heat and air movement. The space below thelight fixture is variable.

The present invention can be seen in FIG. 16 from beneath the lower sideof the retractable screen 10 in extended position covering a lightfixture inset into a T-bar grid ceiling. This is the view that would beseen by an operator or user of the present invention when the screen isin extended mode. The screen cylinder casing 20 would be attached to theT-bar 17 of the grid ceiling on one side of the ceiling light fixture,the screen 10 would extend across the light fixture, and thepull-connector 50 would be secured by means of the receiver S-clip (notseen from this view) to the opposing T-bar 18 of the grid ceiling. Thehole 38 for insertion of the stick usable by the operator to extend andretract the screen (see FIG. 14) can also be seen in the pull-connector50 from this view.

FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the presentinvention in which at least one attachment means 82, 84 is included toallow for the screen 10 to be partially extended from the screencylinder casing 20. Various attachment means may be used for partialextension, including Velcro® strips, other self-adhering strips, ormetal or plastic hooks or tabs. Said attachment means are secured to theopposing side T-bars 16, 19 of the ceiling grid and are incorrespondence with the pull-connector 50 such that the pull-connectormay be held in position with the screen partially extended.

1. A screen assembly consisting of a stationary cylinder, a screen, aself-rolling device, a pull connector bar, and a receiving clip, saidscreen assembly additionally comprising means for removable attachmentto a T-bar ceiling grid.
 2. The screen assembly of claim 1, wherein thescreen is an opaque tinted screen.
 3. The screen assembly of claim 1,wherein the stationary cylinder is attachable to a ceiling by means ofan integral clip.
 4. The screen assembly of claim 1, wherein theself-rolling device consists of at least one spring roller, each suchspring roller being attached to an end of said cylinder.
 5. The screenassembly of claim 1, wherein the pull connector bar is U shaped having atab insertable into said receiving clip.
 6. The screen assembly of claim1, wherein the receiving clip is S shaped.
 7. The screen assembly ofclaim 1, further comprising attachments on the side bars of said T-bargrid corresponding with the pull-connector, at the right and left sidesthereof, to enable the screen to be fixed in a partially open position.